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Chimney & Fireplaces/4 vents in fireplace brick

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Expert: - 10/21/2008


Question

fireplace insert with
Hi,
I just bought a house with a wood stove-fireplace insert in it.  There are 4 vents around the corners of the insert in the masonry fireplace mantle.  I've read that this may be a "heatilator" and it was a system used for circulating warm air through the fireplace brick.  My question is: when I have a fire going all 4 vents are sucking in air, shouldn't the top 2 vents be returning warm air?  Isn't this sending all my heat up the chimney?

Answer
Hello Nate, from the picture you sent it looks like some one installed an insert into a heatolator, you should still be getting heat out from the top vent? I would have a local Certified Chimney Sweep (www.csia.org, there you can look up by zip code to find one near you) take a first hand look at what you have.
there maybe a problem with the original heatolator and that is why they installed an insert.
hope this helped
James Ball

James Ball

Expertise

I am a chimney sweep with over 22 years of experience, CSIA certified and member of the NCSG, I can answer questions about smoky fire places, wood stoves, and heating units (boiler and furnace chimneys) do you need a relining? A cap? And much more

Experience

over 22 years

Organizations
Chimney Safety Institute of America, National Chimney Sweep Guild

Education/Credentials
CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America) certified

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